Drilling rigs, like this one in Columbiana County, could become a part of the landscape in state parks and forests.

COLUMBUS — “A year ago, state officials considered creating rules for oil and gas drilling rigs in state parks that were much more stringent than the rules they now have proposed.

The rigs would have had to have been placed at least 1,500 feet from campgrounds; 1,200 feet from lakes, streams and drinking-water wells; and 900 feet from trails, picnic areas and sites of historic value, under rules discussed in May, according to documents released yesterday.

Two weeks ago, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources released proposed rules that would keep the rigs at least 300 feet from most of those areas.

Information about the previous discussions comes from emails and documents that were shared among agency officials drafting mineral-rights leases and drilling guidelines for parks and other state lands”

Members Supporting Clean Energy in Ohio

8,879 members have sent handwritten letters urging the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and Governor John Kasich to stop the financial bailout of Ohio’s outdated, least efficient coal plants as of July 25, 2015.
3,911 members have signed our "No Bailout" on-line petition.
956 neighbors have sent handwritten letters urging the U.S. EPA to enact strong carbon rules for coal-fired power plants.